HTPC Build..

b.cummins

b.cummins

b.cummins

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So after a bit of research I think I'm finally ready to commit to a HTPC build.

I'm mainly going to be using the machine to run MKV files, internet TV and Radio, HD flash, with a view to ultimately stream lossless HD audio and view Blu-Ray 3D when i upgrade my system. With that in mind, At a later point i'll be adding in a slim blu-ray drive and a 500gb-1tb 2.5" HDD

Currently I'm looking to builld on the following components;

Antec ISK 300-150
Asus P8H67-I Motherboard (Socket 1155, Mini ITX, DDR3)
Corsair CMV4GX3M2A1333C​9 2 x 2GB 1333mhz DDR3 Memory
Sapphire HD 6570 1GB DDR3 Graphics Card
Intel i3-2100 SandybridgeCore​ i3 Quad-Core Processor with the Akasa low profile cooler
Corsair Force 3 60GB SSD
Loftek Rii Touch N7

I'm pretty sure this is the full set up I'll need I just have a few questions as I'm an absolute newbie to HTPCs

is the 150W PSU in the Antec enough for the setup?
My reasoning on the graphics card is I've heard the HD 2000/3000 doesn't perform fantastically in post processing or play well with MKV software, so there will be better functionality in integrating with software de-interlacing and processing/denoising on MKV files with a dedicated low profile gfx - also there is the intel HD graphics issue with Blu ray 24fp play back.
Is the i3 set up overkill? I've weighed it against A75 and it seems to be the preferred format with more futureproofing..
The only component I'm truly largely unsure of is the N7 remote keyboard - i am new to HTPC's is there a nice media remote i can use for full PC control that might be a better option?

I aim to use the pc for USENET downloads and i've heard of software like couchpotato, but it might be better to have the keyboard just in case?
 
Thanks for the replies folks. Having looked at Sickbeard, that's certainly going to fit in line with my requirements, so i'll definitely be picking that up once the system is built!

I've seen the dinovo mini and the Rii Touch is quite similar - it's another pocket keyboard with a mouse interface. Difference being, about £50 in price with the logitech coming up quite expensive.

I didn't realise the HD3000 had recently been updated to fix the issues it was having, but i may as well go with a HD2000 chip and put some of the savings towards a low profile card. Can you think of any passively cooled low profile cards that would be suitable?
 
Anyone know how the LLano artchitecture compares to SB for HTPC set ups?

Also I've been reading Nvidia has trouble with 23.796 as well, would ATI be better?
 
R088ieS86 said:
Llano works just fine for HTPCs. the inbuilt graphics are perfect for HD playback. Nvidia haven't had any issues with [email protected]. You might of been reading about the Intel HD2000/3000 having issues? These have mostly been sorted though.

I tried running a few movies off my i5-2500k's HD3000 chip the other night and recorded the frame rates. No issue at all. Haven't tried on the HD2000 yet. Might try it at work as I have an i3 there.

It will mostly come down to budget an preference. There are so many options to make a HTPC which is why it is so fun :D

Back to Llano - even the cheapest APU (A4-3300) will play back video files with ease.
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This is definitely an issue for me; with the gaming end hardware which is what i've always built with, it's incredibly easy to identify the best possible hardware for the job, no such joy in the HTPC market!

Well I've been specced for a budget all in of about £420, including the remote. If I can get away with onboard graphics it would be nice, as i could then afford to get the logitech dinovo mini.

As for the 23.7 issue - it's mostly horror stories on forums, though an anandtech review recently which compared htpc cards said that nothing played the framerate perfectly, but nvidia could achieve it through custom resolutions, which makes it sound like a hassle and as though nothing will ever play the resolution properly!
 
I had never even factored in the G850 - is the key difference it's 200mhz slower with no IGP?

I am actually going to source a H67 board, i've seen an especially nice Asrock board with a media remote for £30 more.

Looks like a good set up; i have noticed though the passive GT 430s have a higher clearance - will they still fit in the ISK 300-150?
 
that is exactly the board, it includes what looks like a good media remote too!

I've spotted the Asus with the low profile bracket, but the heat pipe extends way beyond the card. width - is this the one you're talking about?
 
Another issue i've spotted the ISK 300-150 has a 150W PSU - the GT 430 requires a 300W PSU according to the specs?!

Edit: Believe i can just resolve this by getting a silverstone SG06 - which prevents the need to buy the scythe cooler as it has enough clearance for this, as well as the chunkier asus gt430 that's passively cooled!
 
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So it's looking increasingly like I'm talking to myself now.. But I've just ordered:

ASrock H67M-ITX/HT
Corsair 4gb DDR3 1333mhz
Pentium G850 2.9Ghz
Corsair Force 3 SSD 60GB
Asus GT 430 (Non-passive)
Silverstone SG06B
 
R088ieS86 said:
Sorry for the late reply, the drive home was nuts tonight :mad:

The GT430 draws about 85W on full load. The 300W PSU is recommended for the full system. But with the low TDP of the G850 it shouldn't be a problem.

The SG06 would solve the graphics cad problem though. It seems that there isn't a lot of space between the PCI-e slot and the side of the case, meaning passive cards could be out of the question.
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Ha! Snap on that, roads are manic.

I just posted the final build below, kinda glad that it ties in to resolve the issue you've pointed out there!
All in got the lot for £405

Your budget was nice but didnt include the SSD, nor a way to control the media pc, which is why the ASrock was so appealling!
 
Cheers :-)

Will update the thread when the building is to be done, I'll also need to come crawling back for advice on HTPC software, which I know nothing about!
 
Buchanan0204 said:
I ventured into this last year and was blown away with how good XBMC was.

Took me an eternity to understand the file naming procedure and how it all worked with windows network shares etc.

It was worth it in the end :)

Download and play with it on your main PC just now. Get some practice in.
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From what I gather you can get behaviour much like auto-tags for music files, with nice sorting of tv series and movies with descriptions and ratings etc?

Is this what you're referring to in the naming procedure?
 
R088ieS86 said:
yeah, you have to rename your files like:

Folder Name:Big Bang Theory
subFolder Name: Season 1

bigbangtheory.s01e01
bigbangtheory.s01e02

etc..

Then the scrapers (think its thetvdb and themoviedb) file those and download the relevant data for each episode and all the logos etc.
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Always wondered by NZB Matrix uses this naming convention - will come in useful i imagine - does sickbeard support sorting the folders for you?

Also, Buchanan, you reference XBMC, does this work with mediaportal/ WMC?
 
Forgive my ignorance, what is PVR?

Edit: Another question is FFD show and AC3 filter; is it best to use both and in what configuration!
 
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I have another question,

I take it the PVR feature is a software feature for the pc so if you are routing a tv/sat connection through the HTPC, you can record it live?

Also wanted to ask, about Freesat HD, currently have the Humax box - is it possible to do away with this and instead source a USB freesat HD receiver that's compatible with Mediaportal (for EPG or something similar) and is comparable/better than the humax? I have seen a technisat box but it doesn't have buzzing reviews shall we say..
 
That's fair enough.. Another question you possibly won't be able to answer is - if i achieve a set up with a freesat receiver compatible with media portal, would it be possible to stream the freesat through mediaextender?
 
Having an absolute disaster with the software set up. Can anyone lend me some advice on the best way to set up my HTPC from a Win7 Fresh install?
 
Well I got Windows etc on there. For some reason, opted for a codec pack rather than installing standalones, have a pci-e DVB -S2 card, couldnt get a decent picture in WMC 7, gonna try installing mediaportal with a tv server tomorrow, but was wondering what kind of codecs are worth installing and how to configure
 
Dunno tbh, i'm going to completely uninstall the codec pack and register the windows defaults, although I will just install a cyberlink for MPEG 2 and MPC-HC extensions for FLV and H.264
 
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